bookworms never go to bed alone

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I have been very lazy, but happy july! I am currently drooling over the work of New Zealand based artist Kelly Thompson. The work below is part of her current exhibit, Bookworms Never Go To Bed Alone, up at the Gorker Gallery in Melbourne. She is celebrating the awkward child that grew up in to the impossibly beautiful geek (swan). She is also an amazingly talented photographer, be sure to check out her website to see her entire collection of illustrations and photography in all its glory.

Summer has begun, and although I have kept incredibly busy with projects and having fun- I am not feeling like I have gotten anywhere! My to-do list is long and getting longer everyday. I think instead of crossing things off, I just keep adding to it. Currently working on:

• album artwork for a friends band
• painting for sisters room
  
• decorating our new bedroom on a $75 budget
• trying to get classes into some sort of organization for next school year
• garden!
• headbands

That is just the start. Also doing tons of yoga in order to try to relax and be able to actually enjoy my summer break a little bit. What is wrong with me?

first official

First official day of summer for me. No more students, no more books, no more teacher's dirty... classroom? I should be ready to relax and do absolutely nothing.. but of course I have a HUGE list of things to accomplish while I am off of work, painting and decorating our bedroom, taking up our curtains, pottery, painting, design work for a friends band, making patio furniture, and major gardening. That is just what I can think of off the top of my head... I am not good at relaxing. Today I am planning a birthday party for my best/going away party for my love that we are having here tomorrow. So far all I have got is slip-n-slide, grill, and margarita cupcakes. Besides all of the work I am on a never-ending search for free pools to get into, plus I would love to find that slide pictured above, that looks delicious.

Polaroid image from let'sexplode's photostream.

Rachel Comey

I do not normally follow fashion designers- as much as I love fashion I just don't have the mind to follow the big names. But I know what I like when I see it- and I like Rachel Comey's Spring 2009 Collection. I know its a bit late as we are heading into summer, but as we all know with fashion- these pieces will carry on into the next season quite effortlessly. And honestly, in NC you aren't wearing many slip dresses until late May/June anyway... at least I'm not :)

I am happy to be seeing myself wanting to incorporate more color into my wardrobe, after a fall and winter of essentially all gray, black, and tan. Here are some of my favorite pieces from her collection:








And it all began with these shoes that I spotted that belong to Alice from Forest Bound, one of my new favorite blogs.. but that is another post all in itself.


Swoon..

Happy Sunday

Hope it is lazy and lovely.

Oh Deer

***Update- we went with the moose head, it was the misters first choice, and since there is already so much deer decor in our house, I think Mr Moose will be perfect!



I know that one cannot really say that they need a laser cut recycled cardboard deer head to hang on their living room wall- but i need this laser cut recycled cardboard deer head. It is the PERFECT piece to hang on our living room wall that has been sitting empty since we moved in. It is the largest wall in our house and has just been blank for the past month. I have even been working myself up to do a set of paintings for it, but my first attempts have fallen short of my approval.

Sooo this is gonna be it. And for $58 it feels like a splurge to me, but is certainly still affordable enough for me to justify the purchase. A good splurge. I am also excited to buy a piece from another artist, rather than slap up another painting of mine that I can never feel fully content with. I also love the moose and rhino, along with almost everything else in the Cardboard Safari shop. Maybe one for every room...


Cardboard Safari on Etsy.

sigh of relief

I feel like I can finally breathe. It has been almost a month since my last post and in that time I have bought a house, moved, set things up, stressed, relaxed, stressed some more, and I am currently enjoying my very first lazy saturday morning in about 3 months. It is beyond glorious. I think I will make some breakfast...even that is a novelty right now. OK, maybe not because I would have to go grocery shopping first. But it is 11 am and I am still in my pajamas, that is an accomplishment in itself. I will try to do better here, I will try. Here are some lovely photos I picked up over at Bliss.

I am off to search for some polaroid film for some fun Saturday photos. Have a beautiful day.

Periodic Table of Typeface

Ok so anyone who really knows me knows how much I love fonts, most importantly- Helvetica- one of the great loves of my life I feel. I was almost in tears the first time I saw the documentary, feeling like I finally was listening to these designers speak to me in the way my brain has always been wired- on figure-ground relationships and what not. So I am absolutely swooning over this Periodic Table of Typeface. My mom is a biology teacher so I have grown up seeing the Periodic Table almost daily, I even had my Art III students do their own redesigns of each of the elements this year because I think it is such a lovely graphic chart. But this combines two things I think are just gorgeous- I want to buy it to hang in my new studio and stare at all day- or just once in a while, while doing more productive things in there. Speaking of my new studio, I don't know if I have mentioned: I BOUGHT A HOUSE. Its perfect, with master, guest and studio rooms, plus an outdoor studio for the mr and his musical endeavors. Sigh... 2 more weeks.

This Makes Me Happy.... Tape!

Among all of stress that is encompassing my life right now (two words: home buying) I am struggling to find the beauty around me. Don't get me wrong, I come across hundreds of beautiful things a day in nature, loved ones, and tons of blogs- but lately it has been tough to just appreciate it. I need to take some time to soak it in, be a sponge and absorb some inspiration, calm, and beauty. Then I need to be able to access and enjoy it when everything else seems to be swirling around me. So here is my happy for today, and appropriately enough it comes from Happy Tape, where you can get your very own Japanese Washi Paper Tape. Yum!

There are so many fun craft projects waiting to be adorned with this loveliness!

Lovebird

Don't you just love these love birds in a nest? They are designed by Rainsend on Etsy to be a cake topper for a wedding or anniversary cake. I think they are sweet enough to just have living in your home.

I am finding so many inspirational things on the web lately, just not the time to organize and post them. I will get on that. BUT lately my mind has been totally focused on the NEW HOUSE I just bought and will be moving into in less than a month. So excited to decorate!

Color Theory

Loving the beautiful work on Mary Ann Wakeley. She describes her work: "The focus of my work explores traveling and vibrating forms in nature. My formats vary however the goal is always a harmonious whole; color plays a significant role." The play of busy and cluttered with calm and clean is what is really drawing me in. As well as the exquisite use of color. Check out her etsy shop for more.